Core-loader for winding machine



Nov. 17, 1959 R. v. zELLlNsKY ETAL 2,913,098

CORE-LOADER FOR WINDING MACHINE 9 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Jan. 2, 1957 mum-Ll Nov. 17, 1959 R. v. zELLlNsKY ETAI- 2,913,098

` CORE-LOADER FOR WINDING MACHINE 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 2, 1957 INVENTORS Rober? V.Zel|insky Glenn L. Jorn #M Attorneys lBY Nov. 17, 1959 R. v. zELLlNsKY ETAL 2,913,098

CORE-LOADER FOR WINDING MAcHxNE 9 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 2, 1957A my wam NnO 8 EHJ n VM... r r mz.. m I V m A mh. b G O R Y B um; a VP.

NOM 17, 1959 R. v. zl-:LLlNsKY ETAI- CORE-LOADER FOR WINDING MACHINE 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Jan. 2. 1957 n l l l l l 1 u n INVENTORS Robert V. Zellinsky l Glenn L.Jorn

Attorneys Nov. 17, 1959v R. v. zELLlNsKY ETAL CORE-LOADER FOR WINDING MACHINE Filed Jan. 2, 1957 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 R. v. zELLlNsKY ET Al. 2,913,098

CORE-LOADER FOR wINnING MACHINE Nov. 17, 1959 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Jan. 2, 1957 INVENTORSI'IEjrl Robert V.Zellinsky Attorneys Glenn L- Jorn NOV. 17, 1959 R, V, ZELUNSKY ETAL 2,913,098

CORE-'LOADER FOR WINDING MACHINE 9 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed Jan. 2, 1957 INVENTORS Robert V.Ze||insky Glenn L Jorn Attorneys fig 17 NV 17 195.9v R. v. zELLlNsKY ETAL 'COREfLOADER FOR WINDING MACHINE Filed Jan. 2, 1957 9 sheets-sheet sav INVENTOIL Robert V. Zellinsky B Glenn L-J*orn Attorneys Nov. 17, 1959 R. v. zELLlN'sKY EI'AL 2,913,098.

coRE-LoADER Fon WINDING MACHINE Filed Jan. 2. 1957 9 sheets-sheet 'e Sensitive Relay -Plote Advance `||ov con Currie e Retract Push Push-Piate Retrac't INVENTUM Robert V. Zeilinsky and Glenn l.. Jorn B i g/MQPQT/SZQQ Attorneys .i c ,Bv B VPO Po IIOV Motor Starter Circuit 22OV.AC.

United States Patent O 2,913,098 CORE-LOADER FoR WINDING MACHINE Robert V. Zellinsky and Glenn L. Jorn, Seattle, Wash.,

assignors to Western Gear Corp., Seattle, Wash., a corporation of Washington Application January 2, 1957, Serial No.632,`1'68 36 Claims. (Cl. 198-21) The winding machine for use with which the present invention is designed is characterized in that the same presents a plurality of mandrels which are mounted for movement through an established orbit eccentric to a center with which the several mandrels constantly maintain a parallel relationship. The mandrels derive their support from one end only, leaving the other end exposed for the application to and the removal from the mandrel of a core on which paper is Wrapped, the removal perforce accomplished only upon the completion of a winding operation. Each mandrel, at a point thereon spaced from the exposed end a distance moderately exceeding the length of the cores, presents a shoulder, and in the application of the cores to the mandrels the core is bottomed against such shoulder so as properly to position the core. The mandrels, in following their prescribed pathof travel, move interruptedly, indexing from one another position in response to the progress of the winding operation. The cores are ap plied to the mandrels at a given single one of the several stations successively occupied. by the mandrels, and the Wrapped rolls with their foundation cores are removed from the mandrels at a different said station. In winding machines of the character here cursorily described it has been the practice, heretofore, to core-load the mandrels'by hand. For its general object the present invention aims to provide a machine for loading the mandrels, and it is a further and particular object to devise such a machine as will perform its loading function automatically in response to the indexing of the mandrels.

Other more particular obects and advantages of the invention will, with the foregoing, appear and be underl stood in the course of the followingdescription and claims. The invention consists in the novel construction and in the adaptation and combination of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings: l

Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevational View, partially broken away, illustrating a core-loading machine constructed to embody the preferred teachings of the present invention, the core-feeding carriage being show n by full lines in its normal retracted position and being shown by dotted linesl in its advanced position, dotted lines being also used to illustrate the core as it is being fed by said carriage.

Fig. 2 is a view of the core, shown partly in elevation and partly in section and using a scale enlarged from that of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a front elevational view of the machine.

Fig. 4. is a front elevational view of amachine having a. supply hopper modied from that of the machine .illustrated in Fig. 3, a hopper of this design permitting a space-saving back-to-back installation to accommodate two separate winding machines with one such hopper feeding in one direction to one such winding machine located at one end of the installation and with the other hopper feeding in the opposite direction to the-.second winding machine, the latter being located at the,v other end of the installation.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary enlarged-scale side elevational view of a tail-end portion of the machine in whichis contained a feed carriage. y

Fig. 6 is a transverse vertical sectional view drawn to an enlarged scale on line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary transverse vertical sectional view, drawn to a yet larger scale, to detail the portion of the carriage structure contained in the feature `circle 7 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary longitudinal vertical sectional view on line 8 8 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary side elevational detail of the endless conveyor chain carried by the carriage, the scale here used corresponding to that of Fig. 7.

Fig. l0 is a fragmentary top plan view of the portion of the machine shown in Fig. 5, the scale corresponding to that of Fig. 6. t

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary longitudinal vertical sectional vieW drawn to an enlarged scale on line 11-11 of Fig. 5.

Fig. l2 is a transverse vertical sectional viewdrawn to an enlarged scale on line 12-12 of Fig. 1 and incorporating a dotted-line showing of several cores to indicate the manner in which the same are delivered from the hopper.

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary longitudinal vertical sectional view on line 13-13 of Fig. 12.

Fig. 14 is a transverse vertical sectional 'View drawn to an enlarged scale ron line 14-14 of Fig. 13 to detail a push-plate which feeds the cores from the hopper to the carnage.

Fig. 15 is a fragmentary longitudinal vertical sectional view on line 15-15 of Fig. 14.

Fig. 16 is a transverse Vertical sectional view drawn to an enlarged scale on line 16-16 of Fig. 1 to detail the magnetic clutch which operates the normally inactive agitator of the hopper, such clutch being energized automatically in the event of the cores hanging up within the hopper.

Fig. 17 is a longitudinal Vertical sectional view on line 17-17 of Fig. 16.

Fig. 18 is a-fragmentary longitudinal vertical sectional view drawn to an enlarged scale on line 18-18 of Fig. 10.

Fig. 19 is a view partly in front elevation and partly in section illustrating one of the link-carried friction iingers, detached, of the endless conveyor' chain and using a scale enlarged from that of Fig. 9.

Fig. 2O is a side elevational view embodying a fragmentary showing of said tail end of the core-loading carriage together with a fragmentary showing of the paperwinding machine, the view correlating the one to the other. In reading this view it is to be assumed that a core is in process of being fed to a mandrel, having advanced to a point Whereat the same approaches, but has not as yet bottomed against, a stop-shoulder formed uponl the mandrel. The core-feeding carriage, at this stage of its cyclic operation, would hence properly occupy the advanced dotted-line rather than the retracted full-line position in which it is erroneously shown, the purpose in so illustrating the parts being to point up the clearance provided by the carriage to permit the mandrels to freely index from one to another position when the carriage occupies its normal retracted position. The scale of this view corresponds to that of Fig. 18. Fig. 21 is a fragmentary transverse vertical section on line 21-21 of Fig. 20. t

Fig. 22 is a similar section showing the parts as they would appear whenthe core-feeding operation has been :normally closed contacts of the relay.

3 completed, yand `namely when the core has bottomed against `the shoulder of the mandrel; and

Fig. 23 is a wiring diagram for the system including the electric motor and associated electrical devices re-Y sponsible for the operation of the winding machine.

v Gcnerally, in carrying out the Ipresent invention, a v,multiplicity of cores are contained in a-supply'hopper and 'from this hopper are delivered one at a time tothe breech of a run-way. The cores are wholly contained within ythis run-way. An intermittently acting push-plate mounted for reciprocal slide `movement in this run-way feeds the core at regulatedI intervals 4to the head end of 'a'constantly driven endless conveyor. The front end of vmounted upona carriage forbodily reciprocal motion in a fore-and-aft direction from a normal `retractedposition into and from a momentarily advanced'position. This 'normal retracted position isone which locates the tail yend Vof the conveyor in a position rearwardly spaced beyond said exposed end of the mandrel, thus to give clearfancefor'the mandrels as the latter index by'the rotation ofthe turret'into said core-loadingistation. The forward travel 4of the vcarriage momentarily shifts the conveyor -into a position whereat its tail end projects forwardly beyond said exposed end of the mandrel so `as to com- "plete a loading of the core and assure a bottoming of the latter against the stop shoulder 'of the'mandr'el.'

Herecursorily considering the vwinding machine with -its A'said Imandrels, there aresixsuchlmandrels 'designated by the numeral 30 and these'mandrels, lying parallel'to the rotary center of a motor-driven turret, progrss'interruptedly through an established eccentric orbit 'into a succession of six stations. Responsible for vguiding 'the -mandrels as -they-trace-this orbital travel is a 'geneva cam-'wheel (not shown). The present invention is fconcerned with only one of the six stations, and namely a core-loadingstation designatedby the letter X. As'the mandrels index from one to another station, turning motion is transmitted to the cam shaft 31 of a special control timer designated generally by 32, and provided upon this cam shaft are a plurality (six being shown) of cams 33 each of which operatesa limitswitch. Only tive of these cam-operated limit switches are of moment to the present invention and are designated in Fig. 20 by 34, 35, 36, 37, and 38. In our later trace of they operation these said switcheswill be termed, respectively, LS-l, LS-3, LS-4, LS-5, and'LS-7, and it is` by these symbols that the same are identified in the wiring diagram. There Iare three additional'functioning limit switches-39, 40,

open switch operative when closed to complete an elecl tric circuit through the coil of a relay designated in the wiring diagram as ICR. The energizing of this coil opens The mandrels themselves are electrically conductive, and the fingers occupy positions such that the same are contacted by the "mandrel as the'mandrel reaches the loading station, thus closing the'electric circuit through the saidcoil of the relay. The relation between mandrel and fingers is such that atleast one of such fingers, indicated' as the' finger 42, makes its Contact upon the core-receiving portion or the mandrel immediately adjacent the shoulder, hence fbeing' lifted out-of Vcontact with thevlmandrel; so as responsively to break the electric circuit, as the core is brought into bottoming engagement against the 'shoulder 45. The sensing fingers are by preference composed of spring coils to give the same extreme flexibility in compensation of the bending to which the same are subjected as the same are traversed by the mandrels as the maudrels index into and outo'f the loading station.

Designated generally by 50, the referred-to hopper has a length moderatelyexceeding the 'length 'ofthe 'cores C and leads by a chute to thehead-end of a 4vertical delivery throat 51, thechute havinga funnel'shape with one side wall 52 being sloped while the other iside wall 53`is desirably a verticalprolongationof one sidewall of the throat. The width of the throat moderately eirceedsthe diameter of the cores. Insaid'sidewalhof vthe throat there is provided an opening, and extending through said opening and normally occupying a position in the path travelled by the descending cores is a` hinged arm 48. This arm is movable by the weight ofthecores into an out-'ot-'the- Way position. Associated with the hinge'pin y54 ofthe arm is the limit switch '41,and the circuit completed by this limit switch includes a magnetic "clutch 56 acting, when energized, totransrer'drivingpower through a chain 99 to a'normally'inactive agitator 59. This` 'agitator lis in the nature of as'piderhaving its arms '58 working through openings provided in the sloping wall "524 of "the hopper 'and providing rollers l70 uponthe `ends'of these by broken lines iniFigS) 'onlytwhen'thenormally retracted push-plates'causedltobe advanced in theforward stroke of its reciprocatorymovement. A doublet-'acting piston 73 working in anair'cylinder 74drives the'pushplategwith the solenoid'valveswhich control 'thefeeding and dumping of pressure air'to and fromthetwo v.ends or this cylinder being controlled byl two ofthe described limit' switches,'and namelythe'limit s'witch "34 (LS-'1) contained in V'the special timing 'control box, and "the limit switchi39 y(LS-2),"such latter switch being carried bythe cylinder 74 in a' position whereatthe same is'activated,'in this instance byfa roller-carrying arm 75,'as' thc piston-actuated push-'plate 72 Teaches the` forward limit of its reciprocal travel.

Denoted by 76, the endlessconstantly-drivenconveyor to' which the "cores "areinterm'ittentlyfed by the pushplate is comprised of"a chain 'trainedaboutfront and rear sprocketwheels`7'7 `and`78 ofwhich the v'former is an idler and the latter a live' wheel. The'sprocket wheels `are'receivedbetween 'oppositesi'clewalls of acarriage 80,

and have their shafts,`designated by 81"a`nd 82, respectively, journaled inpillowblocks'SS 'bolted or'otherwisc secured to saidrside walls upon the "outer'faces'thereof- The carriageis 'arranged rforhorizontal reciprocatory movement betweenz laterally spaced cheekiplates't and 85 of a fabricated frame section( extending forwardly as a nose prolongation of4 the"rnain frame'86 of'the loader. Top and bottom roller-S187 and"88, respectively, journaled onpins 89 carriedbylthecheek-platestsupport the' carriage in its said' reciprocal'motion, tracking g against 'rails 90 boltably secured` to: the fcarriage and'running 'substantially the-'fullf-length'thereof. "As a complementto the rollers,l guidesY 91 bear upon 'theoter=fa`ce of each'rail.

At its forward end afoot92 depends from-the? carriage,

:and attached fp @this 1 foei @is fa, do'bielaeting :piston -f9s working in an air cylinder 94 which is secured to mounting brackets 95 xed to the cheek-plates, solenoid valves which control the feeding and dumping of pressure air to and from the two ends of such cylinder 94 being controlled by limit switch 35 (LS-3) and by the sensing ngers 42-43, respectively. One of the box-carried limit switches, and namely the switch 36 (LS-4), makes a momentary contact as the mandrel, with thecore thereon, is about to index out of the loading station. It performs a safety function, closing the solenoid valve to eifect retraction of the carriage in the event the sensing fingers shall have failed to return the carriage.

Reverting to the conveyor chain, the drive therefor comprises a constant-drive endless chain 100 powered from a constant-drive electric motor 103. The referredto magnetic clutch 56 also has its input side chain-driven from such motor, the chain therefor being designated by 96. A chain take-off 97 from the clutch drives the input shaft of a gear box 98, the drive' thence passing by chain 99 to the agitator.

It will be seen that the live shaft 82 for the conveyor chain 76 has a sprocket wheel 104 mounted upon one of its exposed ends, and this sprocket wheel is augmented by a second carriage-carried idler sprocket wheel 105 located below and somewhat to the front of said sprocket 104. The chain 100, passing by an upper run from a sprocket wheel driven by the motor 103 rst takes a half-turn from below about said idler sprocket 105 and thence an oppositely directed half-turn about the live sprocket 104, from whence it carries forwardly by an upper run to an idler sprocket wheel 106 receiving its journal mounting from the cheek-plate 84. The chain then drops to a second idler sprocket wheel 107 also journaled from the cheek-plate 84, and thence returns by a lower run to the driving sprocket wheel. A cut-out in the cheek-plates 84 accommodates the fore-and-aft motion of the bearings for the sprocket wheels 104 and 105 as the latter move with the carriage. It will be apparent that the described walking arrangement of the two sprockets 104 and 105 maintains a constant tension upon the chain in that the chain run between the drive sprocket and the sprocket 105 lengthens and shortens correspondingly with a shortening and lengthening, respectively, of the chain run between sprockets 104 and 106.

The conveyor chain is constituted of a multiplicity of saddle-shaped fingers 109 secured, as by screws 10S, to ange links of the chain proper. Each said finger is coated with a skin 110 of neoprene or other like or suitable friction surfacing, and as a complement to the friction purchase provided by such fingers there are provided a plurality of overhead pressure rollers. Two such rollers, denoted by 111 and 112, are swingably carried by arms hinged to the cheek-plates of the frame, thus being gravityloaded. A third roller 113 is journaled upon a pin to the head end of a bracket 114 surmounting the front end of the carriage and is yieldingly depressed upon the advancing rolls by a spring 115.

Augmenting the above description it may be here stated that the timing of limit switch 35 (LS-3) is such that the same closes to advance the carriage when the core has progressed to a point whereat approximately 70% of its length is on the mandrel. It is desirable that the advancing core engage and lift the sensing nger 42 at a distance of, say, 1A to 1/2 from the shoulder.

The invention, in order to minimize danger of damage Vto the core loader and the winding machine, incorporates a safety device in addition to the limit switch 36 (LS-4). Said limit switch 36 is in parallel (electrically) with the relay responsible for retraction of the carriage. CR is used on the wiring diagram to denote such relay. Such added safety feature is provided by the normally closed limit switch 37 (LS-5). Opened for approximately 10 in the cams rotation, this limit switch parallels a circuit including relay ICR and limit switch 40 (LS-6), such latter switch being located on the core-loader ina position pivoted v to be closed by the carriage as the latter becomes fully retracted. The two said paralleling circuits are each in series with a relay, denoted R-5 in the wiring diagram, for the Winder drive and core-loader motor control circuits so that if the coil of this relay becomes de-energized the drive motors stop. Thus, if the contacts of relayv ICR or limit switch 40 (LS6) are open during the 10 period when limit switch 37 is open, namely a 10 interval immediately before the mandrels index station, the relay R-S is lcle-energized.

As will be further seen from an inspection of the wiring diagram, there are three push buttons designated PB-l, PB-2, and PB-S. These push buttons respectively parallel LS-l, LS-2, and LS-4, and P B-Z additionally parallels the relay R-S so as to permit independent energizing of the motor starter.

The invention and the manner of its operation will, it is believed, be clearly understood from the foregoing detailed description of our now-preferred illustrated embodiment. Changes within the spirit of our teachings may be resorted to without departing from the invention and it is accordingly our intention that the hereto annexed claims be given a scope in their construction fully commensurate with the broadest interpretation to which the employed language admits.

What we claim is:

l. In combination with a winding machine having a core-receiving mandrel bodily movable by indexing moout of the loading -tion and in a direction normal to its axis into and out of a loading station, a core-loader therefor comprising an endelss conveyor providing an upper run arranged to support and feed cores to successive mandrels occu` pying said loading station, a source of power imparting a constant drive to said conveyor, a reciprocallyvmounted carriage supporting the conveyor for bodily move* ment in a fore-and-aft direction from a retracted position whereat the front end of the conveyor is spaced rearwardly from'the proximal end of the mandrel into and out of an advanced position whereat said front end of the conveyor projects beyond saidl proximal end of the mandrel, means made to operate only when a mandrel occupies said loading station for charging a core to the endless conveyor, and means acting as a followup to said charging operation while the mandrel still occupies said loading station for first advancing and then retracting the carriage.

2t. In combination with a winding machine having a core-receiving mandrel bodily movable by indexing motion and in a direction normal to its axis into and out of a loading station, a core-loader therefor comprising an endless conveyor adapted to feed cores to Successive mandrels occupying said loading station, a source of power imparting a constant drive to said conveyor, a

low-up to said charging operation while the mandrel still occupies said loading station for first advancing and then retracting the carriage.

3. In combination with a Iwinding machine having a core-receiving mandrel bodily movable by indexing motion and in a direction normal to its axis into and out of a loading station, a core-loader therefor comprising and endless conveyor adapted to feed cores to successive mandrels occupying said loading station, a source of power imparting a constant drive to said conveyor, a r'eciprocally mounted carriage supporting the conveyor for bodily movement in a fore-and-aft direction from a retracted position whereat the front end of the conveyor Aaora-09s is spacedrrearwardly from the proximal end of the mandrel finto and'out of an advanced position whereat said frontend of the conveyor projects `beyond said proximal `end 'of the mandrel, means for charging cores successively yto the endless conveyor, and means acting .only when a mandrel occupies saidloading station for iirst advancing and .then retracting the carriage,

vLl. lIn combination with a Winding machine having a core-receiving mandrel bodily movable by indexing motion and in a direction 4normal vto its axis into and out of a loading station, a core-loader therefor comprising an 'endless conveyor acting to feed cores to successive mandrels occupying said loading station, a source of power imparting a constant drive to said conveyor, a

reciprocally mounted carriage supporting the conveyor for bodily movement in a fore-and-aft direction from a retracted position whereat the front end of the conveyor is spaced rearwardly from the proximal end of the mandrel into and out of an advanced position whereat said front end of the conveyor projects beyond said proximal end of the mandrel, means made to operate only when a mandrel occupies said loading station for charging a core to the endless conveyor, and means acting as a follow-up to said charging operation for rst advancing and then retracting the carriage, means being provided for maintaining the mandrel in said loading station until the carriage and its supported conveyor Ahave cleared the travel path of the mandrel in the retraction movement of the carriage.

5. In combination with a winding machine having a core-receiving mandrel bodily movable by indexing motion and in a direction normal to its axis into and out yof a loading station, a core-loader therefor comprising an endless conveyor acting to feed cores to successive mandrels occupying said loading station, a reciprocally mounted carriage supporting the conveyor for bodily movement in a fore-and-aft direction from a retracted position whereat the front end of the conveyor is spaced -rearwardly from the proximal end of the mandrel into and out of an advanced position whereat said front end of the conveyor projects beyond said proximal end of the mandrel, means for charging a core to the endless conveyor, means acting as a follow-up to said charging operation for rst advancing and then retracting the carriage, and means acting upon the conveyor throughout the period of the conveyors head advancing and retracting movement for constantly driving the conveyor in a direction such that the surface supporting the core 'has a forward travel, means being provided for maintaining the mandrel in said loading station until the carriage and its supported conveyor have cleared the travel path of the mandrel in the retraction movement of the carriage.

6. In combination with a winding machine having a core-receiving mandrel bodily movable byindexing motion and in a direction normal to its axis into and out of a loading station, a core-loader therefor comprising an endless conveyor acting to feed cores to successive mankdrels occupying said loading station, means for driving the conveyor, a reciprocaily mounted carriage supporting the conveyor for bodily movement in a fore-and-aft direction from a retracted position whereatthe front end of the conveyor is spaced rearwardly from the proximal end of the mandrel into and out of an advanced position whereat said front end of the conveyor projects beyond said proximal end of the mandrel, means for charging cores successively to the endless conveyor, and means acting only when a mandrel occupies said loading sta- 'tion forrst advancing and then retracting the carriage.

7. In combination with a winding machine having a core-receiving mandrel bodily movable by indexing motion and in a direction normal to its axis into and out of a loading station: a core-loader therefor comprising an endless conveyor providing an upper run so positioned .that alcore carried thereon lies .approximately co-axial With -a mandrel occupying the loading station, a reciprocally'mounted carriage supportingthe conveyor-for bodily movement in a fore-.and-aft direction from a retracted position whereat the carriage and its supported conveyor are spaced rearwardly from the lproximal end 4ot :the mandrel into and out of an advanced vposition whereat the front end of the conveyors said upper run projects beyond said proximal end of the mandrel, means for constantly driving the conveyor in a direction such that its upper run has a forward travel, a supply hopper for the cores, normally inactive means for charging the cores one at a time from ythe :hopper to the conveyor, `means for activating said charging means automatically when a mandrel indexes into said loading station, a normally inactive means for imparting said'fore-and-aft reciprocal motion to the carriage, a means made to operate automatically as a `follow-up to the charging operation for activating said last-named means, and means preventing the mandrel from indexing out of the loading station during said follow-up operation `of the carriage.

8. In combination with a winding machine having a core-receiving mandrel bodily movable by indexing motion and in a direction normal to its axis into and out of a loading station: a core-loader therefor comprising an endless 'conveyor providing an upper' run sopositioned Athat a core carried thereon lies approximately co-axial with a mandrel occupying the loading station, a reciprocally mounted carriage supporting the conveyor for bodily movement in a fore-and-aft direction from a retracted position whereat the `front end of said conveyor `is spaced rearwardly from the proximal end of the mandrel into and out of an advanced position whereat the front end of the conveyors Asaid upper run projects beyond `'said proximal `end of 'the mandrel, a 'supply hopper 'for the cores, means for charging the cores one at a time from the hopper to'the conveyor, normally inactivefmeans for imparting said foreandatt reciprocal motion to the carriage, means 'made to operate when a mandrel occupies said loading station for activating said last-named means, Jmeanspreventing thermandrel from indexing out of the loading station during said fore-and-aft motion of the carriage, and means acting'upon the conveyor at least throughout the period of the conveyors fore-and-aft movement uninterruptedly driving the conveyor in a direction causing the upper run to yhave a yforward travel.

9. In combination with a winding machine having-a plurality of core-receiving mandrels successively bodily movable by indexing motion and in a direction normal to their axis-into and out of a'loading station: a coreloader therefor comprising an endless conveyor providing an upper run so positioned that a core carried thereon lies approximately coaxial with a mandrel 'occupying the loading station, a reciprocally mounted carriage supporting the conveyor for bodily movement in a fore-and-a'ft drectionfrom a retracted position whereat the carriage land its supported conveyor are adjacent to'but spaced rearwardly from the proximal end of the mandrel 'into and ont of an advanced position whereat the front end of the conveyor projects beyond said proximal end of the mandrel, means for constantly driving the conveyor in a direction such that its upper run progresses toward the mandrel, a supply hopper for the cores, normally inactive means for chargingthe cores one at a time from the hopper to the-conveyor, a constantly driven cam shaft movable in timed concert with the indexing movement-of the mandrels, a plurality of cams on said .cam shaft, means controlled by one of said cams for activating said charging means when a mandrel indexes into said loadingfstation, a normally inactive means ,forimparting said tore-and-aft reciprocal motion to the carriage, means controlled by another of said cams causing said-last-named means to be activated as a direct followup `to the charging-operation, and means controlledby -,still .another :of said ,cams preventing the :mandrel from indexing out of the loading station during said follow-up operation of the carriage.

10. In combination with a winding machine having a :plurality of core-receiving mandrels each bodily movable by indexing motion and in a direction normal to their axis into and out of a loading station: a core-loader therefor comprising an endless conveyor providing an upper run so positioned that a core carried thereon lies'approximately coaxial with a mandrel occupying the loading station, a reciprocally mounted carriage supporting the conveyor for bodily movement in a fore-and-aft direction from aretracted position whereat the carriageand its supported conveyor are adjacent to but spaced rearwardly from the proximal end of the mandrel into and out of an advanced position whereat the front end of the conveyor projects beyond said proximal end of the mandrel, means for constantly driving the conveyor in a direction-such that its upper run progresses toward the mandrel, a supply hopper for the cores, normally inactive means for charging the cores one at a time from the hopper to the conveyor, a constantly driven cam shaft movable in timed concert with the indexing movement of the mandrels, a vplurality of cams on said cam shaft, means controlled by one of said cams for activating said charging means when a mandrel indexes into said loading station, normally inactive means for imparting said fore-and-aft reciprocal motion to the carriage,` means controlled by another of said cams vand made to operate as a direct followup to the charging operation for so activating the carriagemoving means as to move the carriage through its forward stroke of recprocation, means made to operate by contact of the advancing core as the latter feeds onto the mandrel and reaches a given end limit of travel for so activating the carriage-moving means as to move the carriage through its return stroke of recprocation, andmeans preventing the mandrel from indexing out of the loading station until the carriage, in its return travel, has cleared the travel path of the mandrel.

1'1. Structure according to claim l0 in which the means last recited is comprised of a limit switch returning carriage.

v 12. Structure according to claim 10 in which the means last recited comprises still another of said cams activating a normally closed limit switch during a momentary interval approaching the end of the mandrels dwell period,

said limit switch being contained in a series electric circuit'including a relay responsible for energizing an electric motor powering the mandrels in the indexing motion thereof and paralleling another series electric circuit also including said relay together with circuit-closing switch means which are closed only when Athe carriage is retracted. v

13. In combination with a winding machine providing 'a core-receiving mandrel bodily movable by indexing vmotion and in a direction normal to its axis into and out of a loading station: a core-loader therefor comprising anendless conveyor arranged to vconvey a core along a path in which its axis approximately coincides with that of a mandrel occupying the loading station, a reciprocally mounted carriage supporting the conveyor for bodily movement in a fore-and-aft direction from a retracted position whereat the carriage and its supported conveyor are adjacent to but spaced rearwardly from the proximal end of the mandrel into and out of an advanced position whereat the front end of the conveyor projects beyond said proximal end of the mandrel, a

- supply hopper for the cores, means for charging the cores one at a time from the hopper to the conveyor, normally inactive means for moving the carriage in the latters forward and return strokes of recprocation, -means acting upon the conveyor at least throughout the period of the conveyors fore-and-aft movement uninterruptedly driving the conveyor in a direction causing the same to impart forward travel to a core on the conveyor,

`.,ngleaus made to operate'automatically as the mandrel in-` operated by the.

dexes into said loading stationV for activating 'the carriage-moving meansI so as to move the carriage in its forward stroker of recprocation, means vmade to operate automatically as a core fed by the forward motion of the carriage reaches a given end limit of travel upon the mandrel for activating the carriage-moving meansso as to return the carriage, and means preventing the mandrel from indexing out of the loading station until the carriage, in its return travel, has cleared the travel path of the mandrel.

14. Structure according to claim 13, the mandrel being electrically conductive, said means which activates the carriage-moving means so as to cause the latter toreturn the carriage comprisingan electrically operated device contained in a normally complete electric circuit, two electrically conductive sensing lingers being provided which are normally isolated electrically one from the other and so positioned as to be first brushed by the mandrel when the mandrel indexes into the loading vstation and thereafter again electrically isolated. from one 'another as the core is loaded upon the mandrel, said sensing lingers performing ,a circuit-closing function for a normally open low-voltage electric circuit including a relay the energizing of which opens normally closed contacts responsible for completing the first-named electric circuit.

15. Structure according to claim 14 in which the sensingV fingers are comprised of spring coils giving extreme ilexibility in compensationof the movement necessary as the mandrel brushes the sensing fingers in its indexing movement into and out ofthe loading station.4

16. Structure according totclaim 14,` one of said sensing fingers engaging the mandrel in an out-of-the .Way position with respect to the loaded core, the other of the sensing fingers engaging the mandrel in a position traversed by the cores as the core is loaded upon the mandrel.

17. In combination with a winding machine having a core-receiving mandrel bodily movable by indexing motion and `in a direction normal to its axis into and out of a loading station: a core-loadertherefor comprising an endless conveyor providing an upper run so positioned that a core carried thereon lies approximately co-axial with a mandrel occupying the loading station, a reciprocally mounted vcarriage supporting theLconveyor for bodily movement'in a fore-and-aft direction from a retracted position whereat the carriage audits supported conveyor are adjacent to but spaced rearwardly from the proximal end of the mandrel into and out of an advanced position whereat the front endof said upper run of the conveyor projects beyond said proximal end of the mandrel, means for constantly driving the conveyor in a direction such that its upper run progresses toward the mandrel, a supply hopper for the cores, a core-receiving breech underlying the hopper to the rear of the carriage in approximate axial alignment with said upper run of the conveyor,` normally inactivermeans movable reciprocally in a fore-and-aft direction forcharging the cores one at a time from the breech of the conveyor, means for activating said charging means in its forward stroke of reciprocation when a mandrel indexes into said y loading station, means for activating said charging means `in its return stroke of recipr'ocation4r as an automatic follow-up .to the forward stroke of recprocation, normally inactive means for imparting said fore-and-aft reciprocal motion to the carriage, means made to operate automatically asl a follow-up to the chargingoperation for activating said last-named means, and means preventing the mandrel fromindexng out of the loading station during said follow-up operation of the carriage.`

18. In combination with a winding machine having a core-receiving mandrel bodily movable by indexing motion and in a direction normal to its axis into and out of a loading station, and having an electric motor supplying: power -for said indexing motion: a Icore-loader therefor rcomprising-an fendless conveyor arranged t o rconveya core alonga -pathinwhich its axis approximately coincides with .that of a mandrel foccupying `the loading station, a` reciprocallyzmounted carriage vsupportingthe 'conveyorzfor bodily movement in `aiore-and-aft direction -from a :retracted `position zwhereatlthe carriage and its supportedzconveyor areadjacentto but'spaced rearwardly fromthe'proximal end of the mandrel into and out of an advancedzposition whereat vthe front end of the conveyor projects beyond said proximal end of the mandre1,.normally inactivefmeans .for imparting said fore-and-aft movement to the'carriage, means .for constantly 'drivingthezconveyor ina directionsuch as to `feed coresfonto the mandrel, atsupply hopper for the cores, a ibreech. having capacity .for a single core .and underlying vthe hopper to the rear of thecarriage, means .forfdelivering the-.cores .one:at a timefrom the hopper to the breech, a means-'mounted for fore-and-aft recipro- Ycal .motion in said breech and acting to charge the cores from 4the .breech .to :the conveyor, normally inactive .means :for imparting Ysaid fore-and-aftmovementto the chargmgfmeanS, aconstantly driven cam shaft movable in timed `concert with Stheindexing movement of the mandrel, .ajpluralityzof carnsfon'said "cam shaft, three normally-incomplete electric'circuits and onernormally complete electric circuit each containing a respective :electric device sooperatively vconnected .with the charging means or 4the carriage-moving-meana as the case may be, that lenergizing thereof operates in the instance '.ofonecf the 4said normally incomplete .electric circuits to activate the .charging meansfor fadvancemovement, operates in the instance of:a second :said .normally incomplete electric circuitlto activate-the :charging means for retraction movement, operates in the instance of .the remaining said. normally 'incomplete electric-circuit to activate thecarriage-moving means for advance travel, and operates in the instance of said normally complete .circuit to activate the :carriage-moving means for retraction travel, 'a normally open limit switch for completing .the first-named of said threenormallyincomplete telectric=circuits so operatively .associated-with one ofy said '.carns as to .be closed thereby upon'an .indexing of a mandrel into said -loading station, ;a .second normally open limit switch .for completing the second-named of f said 'three normally incomplete z electric circuits and so operatively associated `with the :chargingzmeans as to be closedthereby as the latter reachesf'theforward limit of its core-charging travel, a third normally open limit switch for=completing thelast-named of saidthree normally incomplete electricl circuits V'and fso operatively vassociated with another of said rcams as .to lbe Aclosed thereby when the conveyor-advanced Score reaches a given point upon the mandrel :short of complete. bottoming, means so operativelyiassociated"with saidnormally complete-circuit as v'to:maintain'.the'same in a.rclosed :condition excepting fors-a .period `,commencing with the arrival of theY mandrel .'at the `loading station `and extending through approximately 'the time interval necessary for the .carriage to load fthemandrel, land a normally incomplete electric :circuiti including.` a` circuit=closing1 limit switch lengaged andfclosedby'thexcarriageas theilatter retracts'and actingztoprevent the mandrel from indexing out of'the.loadingistationiwhile its ftraveLpathis occupied by the carriage.

19. Structure `according to claim 118 lhaving, as an 5 added safety feature, a .normallyclosed .limit switch so operatively associated with still .another of :said cams as to beA opened thereby toward :theend of rtliefdwell` period during which the mandrel occupiestheloading station and *.acting When-opened 1 to complete Aan .electric circuit through -said electriedevice'whichis 'contained in said normally complete circuit.

420. Structure accordingto claim 18, the conveyor `being driven by van .electricmoton andthavingstillitanother and normally t closed. limit .lswitche-so associated with; .yet

:'anotherof said cams .as to be activated therebygduringza momentary interval approachingthe end .of the :man-

drels dwell'period, said limit switch being :contained in a series electric circuit including afrelay responsiblefor H5 energizing both of said electric motors and paralleling another series electric circuit also including said relay `.together .with )circuit-'closing switch means `closed only when the carriage is retracted.

21. Structure according to claim having normally open manually-operated switches one for energizing the motor which drives the conveyor, a second for completing .the electric circuitwhich Aactivates the .carriage-moving means for advance-travel, and a third for completing 'theelectric circuit which .activates thecarriage-moving -means for return travel.

22. Structure according to claim 18 having-.a normally closed limit switch held open by the presence of cores in a delivery 'throat leading from the hopper to the breech, andiproviding a normally inactive'rotaryagitator operating when activated to agitate the coreswithinLthe zhopper, a `constantly driven electric motor being-providedhaving driving connection with the conveyor'and also also driving the input end of a magnetic Vclutch which hasfdriving connection from its voutput-endto :the agitator, the clutch being contained in any electric circuit. closed by the last-named limit switch.

23. Feed devices. comprising :a constantly fdriven unidirectional .endless conveyor, a carriage mounted`\for foreand-aft reciprocal movement and supporting said conveyor so that the latter will move bodily withfthe carriage,-receiving vmeans movable by indexing'motion into and out of a receiving station locatedat the approximate forward limit of the conveyors travel as the latter 'moves with the carriage, means for charging to said :conveyor an object which is to be conveyed to the receiving station and means for impartingsaid fore-and-a'ft motion to the carriage, the movement of the object as it is conveyed by the conveyor corresponding directionally with thel forward travel of the carriage, meansbeing-provided for co-ordinating the charging means and the'carriage with the indexing movement of the'receivingmeans so that (l-)'the object to be conveyed is charged Vto the conveyor and (2) the carriage is given forward motion only when the receiving means indexes into saidreceivmg statlon.

24. In combination witha tube-receiving mandrel bodily movable byindexing motion and in a direction normal-to its axis into and out of a loading station, a tubeloader therefor comprising an endless `conveyor arranged toconvey a tube along'a path in which its axis approximately coincides with that of a mandrel Voccupying the loading station, a reciprocally mounted carriage supporting the conveyor, for bodily movement in aforeand-aft direction from a retracted position whereat the kcarriage Iand its supported conveyor are spaced rearwardly from the proximal end f the mandrel ,into and out of an advanced position whereat the front end of I.the conveyor projects beyond saidY proximal end of, themandrel, normally inactive .means'co-ordinatedwith thejndexing movement of the mandrel causing thecarriageto be movedY into and out of .said advancedpositiomonly when Vthe mandrel occupies ,said loading station, 7and means .active upon the conveyor at leastduringitsgtravel ,6 with the carriage giving movement to. theconveyor-infa direction corresponding with.the forwardtravel-,of'the carriage,4 meansv being provided for supplying to the-..con veyor. the. tube which is to RbeV receiveduponrzthe'mandrel. 25..Structure according vto claim 24, said.fconveyor comprisinga multiple-link chain in: which the multiple links carryiingers shaped toprovide-afclose iittingxseat forthe-tube, the seating'surface'of'said fingers being coatedtwith a skin of plastic materialihaving a Ihigh friction. characteristic.

f26.\:Structure as recited .inf.claim224,f and means? yield- 'ingly pressing the tube against said seating surfaces of the lingers.

27. In combination with a tube-receiving mandrel, tube-carrying conveyor means operatively associated with said mandrel and mounted for fore-and-aft movement from a retracted position whereat the same lis isolated from the mandrel into an advanced position whereat a tube carried by the conveyor means is fed onto the mandrel, means for imparting said advance movement to the conveyor means, a normally open electric circuit including an electrically operated device operatively interconnected with the conveyor means and characterized in that the same acts when energized to return the conveyor means to said retracted position, and means operated automatically as the tube reaches a given point in course of being fed by the conveyor means onto they mandrel serving as a control switch for closing said electric circuit so as to energize said electrically operated device.

28. Structure according to claim 27, the mandrel being electrically conductive, and the tube being electrically non-conductive, and in which the normally open -electric circuit includes a circuit-completing switch closed by the inactivation of an electric coil contained in an electric circuit including, as the control switch therefor,

the mandrel and two separated electrically conductive movably mounted ngers occupying a position in the path travelled by the delivered tube so as to be moved by the latter into a position isolated from the mandrel and thus opening the circuit through the coil.

29. The structure recited in claim 28 characterized in that the fingers are comprised of highly exible spring coils.

30. In combination with a tube-receiving mandrel bodily movable by indexing motion and in a direction normal to its axis into and out of a loading station, a tubeloader therefor comprising a tube-carrying conveyor arranged to convey a tube along a path in which its axis approximately coincides with that of a mandrel occupying the loading station and mounted for fore-and-aft movement from a retracted position whereat the conveyor is spaced rearwardly from the proximal end of the mandrel into and out of an advanced position whereat a tube carried by the conveyor is fed onto the mandrel, normally inactive means co-ordinated with the indexing movement of the mandrel causing the conveyor to be moved into and out of said advanced position only when the mandrel occupies said loading station, an electrically operated device for moving the mandrel interruptedly in its said indexing motion, and two paralleling electric circuits each in series with said electrically operated device and characterized in that one said paralleling circuit includes a normally closed circuit-completing switch opened automatically for a momentary time interval immediately before the mandrel indexes out of said loading position and the other said paralleling circuit includes a normally open circuit-completing switch closed automatically by movement of the conveyor into its retracted position.

31. In combination with a tube-receiving mandrel bodily movable by indexing motion and in a direction normal to its axis into and out ofa loading station, and with the means for moving the mandrel interruptedly in the said indexing motion, a tube-loader for said mandrel comprising a tube-carrying conveyor arranged to convey a tube along a path in which its axis approximately coincides with that of the mandrel when the latter occupies the loading station and mounted for fore-and-aft reciprocal movement from a retracted position whereat the conveyor is spaced rearwardly from the proximal end of the mandrel into and out of an advanced position whereat a tube carried by the conveyor s fed onto the mandrel, normally inactive means for imparting said fore-and-aft reciprocal motion to the conveyor, a cam shaft movable in timed concert with the indexing movement of the mandrel, means controlledby one 'of the cams on said cam shaft causing said conveyor-moving means to be activated upon an indexing of the mandrel into said loading station, and means controlled by another of the cams on said cam shaft preventing the mandrel from indexing out of the loading station during activation of the conveyor-moving means.

32. In combination with a carriage supported for foreand-aft reciprocal motion along a rectilineal path, and an endless conveyor chain trained about drive and idler sprocket wheels one fast to a live shaft and the other to an idler shaft carried by the carriage for rotation about longitudinally spaced apart transverse axes, an endless driving chain trained about a set of tive sprocketwheels occupying a plane alongside and parallel with the plane occupied by said conveyor chain, two of said set of five sprocket wheels being carried by the carriage one above the other with the upper wheel fast to an end of the live shaft and the other freely journaled, another tWo` of said set of tive-being journaled to the front of said carriage-carried sprocket wheels for rotation about localized axes one disposed above the other with one axis occupying the plane travelled by the live shaft and the other spaced therebelow, the remaining one of said set of five being journaled about a localized axis lying to the rear of said carried-carried sprocket Wheels in a plane which extends parallel to said plane travelled by the live shaft and transversing the axis of the lower of the last-named two sprocket wheels, at least one of said localized sprocket wheels being a power-driven wheel, the drive chain passing forwardly by an upper run from said rearmost sprocket wheel and taking oppositely-directed halfturns from below first about the lower and then about the upper of the two carriage-carried sprocket wheels, thence extending fowardly to pass first over the upper and then under the lower of the two forwardly placed localized sprocket wheels, and nally returning by a lower run to the rearmost sprocket wheel.

33. In combination with a carriage supported for foreand-aft reciprocal motion along a rectilineal path, and an endless conveyor chain trained about drive and idler sprocket wheels one fast to a live shaft and the other to an idler shaft carried by the carriage for rotation about longitudinally spaced apart transverse axes, an endless driving chain trained about a set of sprocket wheels occupying a plane alongside and parallel with the plane occupied by said conveyor chain, said set including several stationary sprocket wheels journaled for rotation about localized axes and 'at least two walking sprocket wheels carried by the carriage one above the other with one fast to an end of the live shaft and the other freely journaled, one of said stationary sprocket wheels being a power-driven wheel, said sprocket wheels in the set being so located and the drive chain so trained about the same that two oppositely moving runs of the chain each parallel the travel path of the carriage and extend one run between one of the walking wheels and one of the stationary wheels and the other run between two stationary wheels which occupy positions one beyond one and the other beyond the other extreme of the path travelled by said walking wheels, the run of the chain including oppositely directed half-turns taken about the two walking wheels.

34. Feedrdevices comprising an endless conveyor, a carriage mounted for fore-and-aft reciprocal movement and supporting said conveyor so that the latter will move bodily with the carriage, means for driving the carriage in its reciprocal movement, means operative when the carriage occupies a retracted position for charging to the conveyor an object which s to be conveyed, means acting as a complement to said conveyor yieldingly pressing the charged object against said conveyor, and means independent of said carriage-driving means and operative at least throughout periods when the carriage is in m0- 'tion :for driving the conveyor .with the direction thereof correspondingto the forward travel of the carriage.

35. In combination with a winding machine having a vcore-receiving mandrelbodily movable by indexing motion and in a directionnormal to its axis into and out of aloading station,aand havingan electric motor supplying power for said indexing motion: a core-loader therefor comprising an endless conveyor arranged to convey a corealong a path in which its axis approximatelycoin- .cides with that of a mandrel occupying the loading sta .out Vof an advanced positionwhereat the front end of the zconveyor projects beyond said proximal en-d of the mandrei, ;norma1ly inactive means for imparting said\forefand-aft 'movement to thecarriage, means for driving the conveyorin a directionsuch as to feed cores onto the nmandrel, means for charging cores individually to the conveyor when the carriage'occupies a retracted position,

and: meansr preventing the mandrel from indexing out. of

16 the1loading vstation While lits travel path is. occupied by the carriage.

36. Structure according to claim 35having a normally closed switch contained in a series electric circuitincluding a relay responsible for energizing vthe electric motor and paralleling another series electric circuit also including said relay together with circuit-closing switch means closed only when the lcarriage is retracted, means being provided for opening said normally closed, switch during a momentary interval approaching-theend ofthe mandrels dwell period.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 681,916 Hoxie et al. Sept. 3, :19,01 1,991,699 Reiners et al Feb` k19, 1935 2,219,954 Geiger et al Oct. 29,1940 2,349,456 Olson May 23, 194.4 2,536,412 Bamford Jan.x2, 1951 2,634,022 .Wyattv Apr. 7, 1953 2,679,924 Powell Junegl, 19,54 l2,723,049 -Ward Nov. 8,;1955 

